Meinl Percussion Byzance 19" Dual Crash Review: Hand Hammered B20 Bronze

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Meinl Percussion Byzance 19 inch Dual Crash Cymbal arrives with the most detailed published description of any model in this review batch. The original listing name was cut short before the type of cymbal was stated, so this review uses the fuller name drawn from the listing title, dual crash, rather than that shortened fragment.

Seven bullets anchor the published description, covering hand hammering in Turkey, a stated B20 bronze alloy with an exact composition, the dual finish concept that expands on the Byzance Extra Dry line, a described visual and sonic match, a fully lathed underside, the confirmed size and type, and a general modern meets tradition framing.

That level of detail, especially the explicit alloy composition and country of origin, sets this listing apart from most others covered in this review set, where alloy and origin are typically left unstated. The rest of this review works through that confirmed detail section by section.

Given that level of published detail, this review treats the Meinl Percussion Byzance 19 inch Dual Crash Cymbal as a useful benchmark against which the more thinly documented listings elsewhere in this batch can be compared, since it shows what a fuller specification sheet for a crash cymbal actually looks like.

Sound and Tone

The listing describes this crash's sound as similar to its look, trashy, earthy and low at first, ending with a flash of explosive brilliance. That is an unusually vivid, specific description compared with the shorter tonal adjectives used in most other listings in this review batch.

The B20 bronze alloy, stated directly as 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin, is generally associated with a rich, complex sound and a wide dynamic range, which the listing itself connects to nuanced playing. Buyers report that this kind of alloy composition is widely regarded in the cymbal industry as a premium, cast bronze standard rather than a budget alternative.

The dual finish, a raw hand-hammered center against a lathed, polished edge, is credited in the listing with producing that trashy to brilliant arc, since the two different surface treatments across one cymbal typically behave differently under the stick. A fully lathed underside is described as opening up the sound further and softening the feel under the stick.

Alloy, Weight and Build

This listing states the alloy explicitly, B20 bronze, composed of 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin. That is a confirmed, specific figure rather than a general claim, and it places this crash in Meinl's traditional cast bronze category rather than a lower cost brass alternative.

No weight class, such as thin or medium, is published for this model, which is the one notable gap in an otherwise detailed listing. The construction is described as hand hammered in Turkey by artisans, with the listing stating that this process refines thickness, shape, tone and feel so that each cymbal is one of a kind.

The dual finish is a specific, confirmed build detail, a raw, hand-hammered center paired with a lathed, polished edge, and a fully lathed underside across the whole cymbal. That combination of textures is stated directly in the bullets rather than assumed from general knowledge about the Byzance line.

Versatility Across Styles

Versatility is not the primary claim for this crash, and the listing itself frames the sound as distinctive and dual character rather than broadly all purpose. A trashy, earthy, low opening that resolves into explosive brilliance is a specific musical effect rather than a flat, uniform crash tone suited to every style equally.

That kind of distinctive character tends to suit genres and moments that reward dramatic, textured accents, such as fusion, progressive rock, and modern jazz, more than straightforward rock or pop settings that often prefer a cleaner, more uniform crash sound. Drummers who want one crash with real character rather than the most generically versatile option should find this description appealing.

• Fusion and progressive styles that reward a dramatic, textured accent
• Modern jazz and nuanced playing suited to a wide dynamic range
• Less suited as a clean, uniform crash for straightforward rock or pop

Durability and Care

No specific weight class or warranty term is published for this crash, though the listing describes a careful, artisan hand hammering process in Turkey intended to refine thickness, shape, tone and feel across each individual cymbal.

A fully lathed underside is credited with giving the cymbal a softer feel under the stick, which can also be a reasonable proxy for a more controlled, even response compared with an unlathed build, even though the listing does not frame that detail as a durability claim specifically.

Standard crash care applies as a sensible default here, striking across the edge rather than driving straight into the raw, hand-hammered center, and avoiding choking the cymbal immediately after a hard hit, since neither specific guidance is published for this model.

B20 bronze is widely regarded across the cymbal industry as a durable, time tested alloy choice for premium cast cymbals, a reputation that supports a reasonable level of confidence in long term wear even though the listing itself stops short of making an explicit durability promise.

What Is in the Pack

This listing covers a single 19 inch crash cymbal. No case, bag, cleaning cloth or stand is mentioned anywhere in the published bullets.

Buyers should plan on using their own existing cymbal stand and felt when setting this crash up, since nothing beyond the cymbal itself is confirmed in the listing. That single cymbal structure is typical for a crash at this price tier, where the detailed description is the main added value rather than bundled accessories.

Given how much detail this particular listing provides about the cymbal's alloy, origin, and finish, the absence of any mention of a protective case or sleeve stands out slightly more than it would on a thinner listing, since buyers may reasonably expect similar thoroughness around packaging.

Daily Use and Setup

Setting up this crash follows standard practice, seating it on a felt centered on the stand tilt rod, leaving enough space below the bell for free movement, and avoiding cymbal to cymbal contact with any neighboring crash or ride.

Given the described dual finish and the trashy to explosive tonal arc, players should experiment with striking both the raw, hand-hammered center and the lathed, polished edge separately when first setting this crash up, since the listing frames those two zones as behaving differently.

For the rich, complex B20 bronze voice the listing describes, positioning the crash at a comfortable reach and a moderate tilt tends to make the described explosive brilliance easier to control than an extreme, flat angle.

Who Should Buy It

This crash suits drummers who want a confirmed, premium B20 bronze alloy and a distinctive, dual character sound rather than a uniform, generically versatile crash voice.

Fusion, progressive, and modern jazz players who value dramatic, textured accents and a wide dynamic range are a strong match for what this listing describes. Drummers who appreciate a fully documented listing, with alloy, origin, and finish all confirmed directly, should also find this a dependable choice.

Drummers who want a clean, uniform crash sound for straightforward rock or pop, or who need a stated weight class before purchasing, should look toward a different model covered elsewhere in the current lineup.

Buyers who specifically value transparency in a listing, where alloy, origin, and construction are all stated plainly rather than left to general brand reputation, should also weigh this model favorably against less documented alternatives covered elsewhere in this same review batch.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Drummers who want a cleaner, more uniform crash sound instead of this trashy to explosive dual character should compare against a Zildjian K Sweet or Sabian HHX Complex model covered elsewhere in this review batch, both built around a more singular tonal identity.

Players who specifically want the same confirmed B20 bronze alloy without the dual finish concept should look for a standard Byzance crash rather than this dual finish variant, since the raw center and lathed edge combination is what sets this particular model apart.

Trying this crash alongside a standard, single finish Byzance model side by side, where possible, remains the most reliable way to decide whether the dual texture concept is worth the premium over a more conventional build.

Verdict

The Meinl Percussion Byzance 19 inch Dual Crash Cymbal is one of the most thoroughly documented listings in this review batch, stating a B20 bronze alloy composed of 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin, hand hammered in Turkey, with a raw center, a lathed and polished edge, and a fully lathed underside.

The described sound moves from trashy, earthy and low at first to a flash of explosive brilliance, giving this crash a distinctive, dual character rather than a uniform voice. No weight class is stated, which leaves one build detail unconfirmed, but the alloy, origin, and finish are all confirmed directly in the bullets. For drummers who want a confirmed premium alloy and a distinctive crash character, this lower mid-range Byzance model is a strong, documented choice.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Stagg MYR-CH18RW US

Rock, metal and fusion drummers who want a cast B20 china with a dry, quick trash at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg MYR-CH18RW US review →

Stagg 18"

Rock, metal and contemporary drummers who want a bright, cutting 18 inch medium crash at a lower mid-range price and are not fussy about the exact alloy.

Read the Stagg 18" review →

Stagg SH-CT19R SH

Drummers who want a large, fast opening thin crash for lower volume rock, pop, worship or jazz adjacent work at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg SH-CT19R SH review →

Questions Buyers Ask